LaPlante
An Alabama man is facing high-level child molesting charges after prosecutors say he molested a child in Franklin.
Mark W. LaPlante, 49, of Grant, Alabama, is charged with two counts of child molesting, one as a Level 1 felony and the other as Level 3 felony. He was booked into the Johnson County jail on a $40,000 bond on Nov. 3, which he paid and was later released.
The investigation into LaPlante began in February after a 12-year-old from Franklin alleged that he had molested them. The child told police LaPlante had touched them inappropriately multiple times for the past three years, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Superior Court 3 on Oct. 12.
LaPlante allegedly first touched the child inappropriately in 2019, but they did not disclose it because they were scared to tell anyone about what happened. They ultimately decided to report after a series of other incidents with LaPlante from 2019 to 2022, according to the affidavit.
During one incident, LaPlante allegedly made the child sleep in the same bed as him, which made the child uncomfortable, the affidavit said.
During another incident, LaPlante allegedly touched the child’s chest. The child was wearing clothes at the time, and when they attempted to move his hand, he moved it back, according to the affidavit.
The child told police LaPlante allegedly entered their room on Feb. 13, pulled up their nightshirt and touched them inappropriately. LaPlante had also allegedly previously told the child not to wear underwear, and would get mad if they did, the affidavit says.
After LaPlante molested the child, he allegedly threatened the child, saying he would get them into trouble if they told anyone. The child also said whenever LaPlante would hug them, he would rub their genitals inappropriately, according to the affidavit.
Detectives informed the child’s mother they planned on speaking with LaPlante in Feburary, the affidavit said.
When detectives attempted to speak with LaPlante, and he told detectives he would like to speak with a lawyer first. Police informed him he could speak with his lawyer at the police department, and LaPlante gave consent for the interview, according to the affidavit.
However, after 10 minutes, detectives knocked on his door again. LaPlante said he was no longer going to the station after he spoke to his lawyer. Detectives asked him if he knew why they were there and he said he had a good idea as to why, the affidavit said.
LaPlante allegedly told the child’s mother he did not have sex with the child. He eventually moved out of the house into a hotel, and later went back to Alabama, according to the affidavit.
